Flying-boat.



G. H. CURTISS.

FLYING BOAT.

` AFPLICATHNE HLID )EC.6.19\5. 1

1 ,246,01 6. mama Nov. b, 1917.

6 SHEETSSHEET l.

INVUNTOQ GLENNHCURTIS@ G. H. CURTISS.

FLYING BOAT.

APPLicATloN FILED 0Ec.6.19\5.

ted Nov. 6, 1917.

NHUENY G. H. CUHTSS.

VFLYiNG BOAT.

APPLicATxoN mm DEC. e. :915.

1 ,246,01 6. Patented Nov. 6, 1917,

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTOR GLENN H CUETISS ATTOE N E?.

FLYING BOAT.

APPLCATlON FILED DEC. 6. 1915.

1,246,01 6. VPatented Nov. 6, 1917.

. E SHETSMSHEET 4- j i4 47 l 45 INVENTOQ GLENN fiuml.

G. H` CURUSS.

FLYING BOAT'.

APPLICATloN FILED Dsc. n. mw.

1,246,016. l Patented Nov. 6, 1917 6 SHEETS-SHEET 5 INVENTOR GLENNHuranss.

G. H. CURTISS.

FLYING BOAT.

APPL'zcATsoN FILED uic. 6. 1915.

Patented Nov. 6, 1917.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

VVINvxN-rosa @LE-NN Huensa DW ATTORNEY.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEIoE.

d l l l g GLENN HJCURTISS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB T0 CURTISSAEROILANE AN'D 4 MOTOR ooEronATIoN, A con'PonaTION 0F NEW YORK-l- 4Tocllfwkomit'majz/ concern." v

Be 1t known'I, GLENN H. CUnTiss, a

citizen 'of the United States, residin at as a hydroplane and in aerialAHight, dil'ler ing from the hydro-aeroplane proper in the use of anactual boat structure for the pontoon-equipped-uselage of the latter.VThis boat stri'lcture serves tocharacterize the dying boatby itshydroplaneebuilt hull carrying amidships the aerial supporting sur-lfaces and aft on itsltail portion the control and fixed stabilizingsurfaces, andby its cabin accommodations for the ying crew.

Contemplated by this inventionare 1mprovements directed particularlytothe hull in the following specification and then more.

and engine section thereof lin flying vboats of; the trans-oceanic type;The comfortable housing of the occupants'` of the boat ;l theVarrangement of controls olf tbedual type; the employment of afwingstructureV which iserected on4 beams built directly into the boathull and securely braced to the vhydroplaningstep thereof ina mannerrendering this'wing structure practically a component part of the hull;the novel .and eiiicient Ysupport of a multiple-unit power plant by'wing post frames; Vand fthe secure 'intere bracing of the power plantfunits togeach other and as a whole -to thehull, via the mentionedbuilt-in wing structure, are""all important yobjects of my; inventionand are,A to be correlated in the broad aim of en'- hancin'g theefficiency of this craft for general use, `and in particular forextended cruises.

Will be hereinafter Amore specifically treated,

are attained by such means as are shown i in the accompanying drawings,described clearly pointed out in the claims, which are' 4appendedj`hereto and form a part of this,

application. y With reference to the drawings, in which there isillustrated one embodimynt of the invention, and throughout Vthe se ralviews of which like characters of reference desig# nate-similar parts,l*

Specicatlon of Letters Patent.` l

The above, and additional objects which.

4which serves* FLYING-BQAT.

Patented Nev. c, 191.7.

f Appuntion mea December 6,1915. sexismo. sam.

`Figure l is alffraginentary plan View Vof the 4fiyng boat comprehendedby my present invention; f l y.

Fig. Qlis ay ,view in side elevation of the complete boat;

boat;

Fig. l lis a partial, sectional View taken longitudinally through theboat and in particular throughl the cabin;

Fig. 5 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the plane indicated bythe lines V5f-5 of Fig. fi; i

Fig. G illustratesthe engine section of the boat in a halfelevation-half section;

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal sectional View taken through the enginesection;`

Figs. 8 and v9 show the fore and aft portions, respectively, of valongitudinaly section throu lihthe hull; 1 'Fig l0 1s a detail-perspective of the back for the aviators seat;

. Fig llis an elevation of a hinge socket;

Fig. 1 2 is an end viewof the same hinge connection ofthe drawings, Yagene-'ralf exposition ofv the flying boat construction evolved by `the l80 Fig. 3 is a partial front elevation of the` present invention-will beundertaken. The

boat hull is essentially streamline, its uni-Y form beam amdshipstapering forwardly to a relatively bluntnose and rearwardly to theelongated tail upon which are sup'- ported the customary intersecting,horizontal and 'vertical stabilizing planes', together t with theelevator'and rudder controls. Prol ecting amidships i'sthe' cabin' foroccupation by the aviators, the sideshNa-ndtop of the cabinV mergingintegrally' into' the.

strearnlinel of the hullA proper.

A removable .window-top terminates, lthecabin streamlines forwardly,protedtin'g-the '.via-

',ayobtors from the elements `yet in are'. structing their vision 'orhampennggeasy control... l .y The engine' section of the boat" ,vi forthe exterior-'patria- Aeef amiw 4 power plant4 unit', vv'eac Vmot uniprovided `wit A se te 'l control, and .be

- tend beyond section anel with the lower, the latter being in t e formof stub wings built directly into the hull structure. To these wingpanels are hin ed for lateralextenson the sup orting sur aces ofthercraft, the upper sur aces havin terminal panels which exille lowersurfaces und are equipped with ailerons of the trailing edge type. Themultiple power plant has its units not only formin a part of the enginesection in this manner ut has them also braced to each other, while thepanel as a whole is braced directly to the hull, and is arranged abovethe hydroplaning step of the4 latter in order to provlde a substantiallyvertical alinemen't between the center of lift and the center ofgravity.

As regards' the rigid buildin of the mentioned wing panels into the hulit is known to me that some efforts `have been made previously topartially incorporate portions of the wing structure with that of ness*Awith the step', "of efficiency.

the boat structure, but the construction to be hereinafter more fullyexplained progresses' far beyond'this point in so much as the wingbeams-are not only built into the side of the boat hull but are reliablyassociated with compression braces forming intimate components of thehull construction. A most important addition in the built-in wing'structure will be discovered in the bracing for each Wingbeam wherebythe latter are securely connected to each exfremity ofthe hydroplaningstep of the beat, as Well as being oppositely guarded by' reactionbraces, which complete a truss elfect forming an arrangement of thegreatest strength to serve as a base'for the attachment of the aerialsupporting surfaces. Advantages of an obvious nature reside in theresult-ant security attained by the complete'inter-relation of thesehull and wing structures.

Beginningthe more detailed descri tion by reference to the hullof thefiying oat, the numeral 10 indicates the keel upon which are erectedfloors 11 and over which is laid the outer planking 12 ofthe V-shapedrhydroplanng bottom, a false keel 13 being alln'ed exterlorly with'thekeel 10 at the vertex of 'theangled bottom porti'nsa The planking 12extended laterally in a manner` which is streamline in plan fromthebow'b'f' the" boat Ato the hydro laning step.' 15 in order -t'o providethe auxi iary planing vfins", 16; `which in side elevation are also,givencurves partaking of a` streamline nature. The V-shaped' bottom ofthe boat rises gradually from the step to the bow, while the tailportion17 hasits flattened bottom'making'an angle of greater sharpfor wellknown reasons The upper surface oflthe hull is enlarged vforwardly -fromav point aft the vertical plane of the step, the forward sweepy,lng roofline of the cabin 18 thus provided may be continued to merge into thenose of the hull in the roundcd manner denoted by the dotted line18"',of Fig. 2. This root curve is, however,'destroyed or mutilated bythe iintcrposition"4 of the short forward deck 19, the cabin front'being abruptly clit down to vertically meet this decl@ line.Horizontally, the deck19 is Icut away to provide the half-circularcontrol cockpit 2Q at the front of the cabin und is edged by a combing2()1| for the mounting of a removable cover-top 2l. This top is ofsemicylindrie-al formation to properly encompass the eock-pit and servesas a forward coiitinuation and termination of thc streamlines of thecabin 18. f

AS at present constructed, the cabin top 2l is built uponthe'semi-circularly rounded cornice strip 22, which is also arcuate incross section as is to be seen in Figs. 4: and 5. Spaced vertical:strips 23 connect a combingr band 24 to this cornice while the oppositesides of the cornice have fastened thereto the top strips 25 parallel tothe diameter of its curvature and reinforced by a central strip 3G. Thespaces in between the cornice and the combing band, as defined by thevertical strips 23, and those spaces defined by thc top Strips 25 are.covered with translnxrencies of some such suitable nature as celluloidor the like, except for the two foremost panels which are each adaptedto be covered by a sliding door 26 which is movable. laterally andlarcuatcly, between upper and lower guides 27. By this arrangement theaviator within the cock-pit has at all times a practically unobscuredvision while at the same time being protected from the weather and beingable to manipulate the sliding Window 26 for the purpose of ventilation,when so desired. The method ot mounting this cabin top upon the combing20 in order to provide for its ready removal, includes the placing of anexterior strip 28 adapted to overlie' the combing upon which rests thelower edge of the band 24, in the manner Well shown in Fig. 5. Plates 29are carried interiorly and to firmly secure the top in extendingoutwardly fromthe portionofi' the hull ,inclosed by such flnsand'tliesuperficial description ofthe hull construction may be concluded lbymention of. the entrance by vertical ribs' 23 to overlap the combingscuttle or hatchway 34 which let intorl'o Wliieh it intersects.

"pable ofiormii'ig the stub wings of the fiy-V 4structure thereto.

lowers tively, each the cabin roof 18 immediately aft ofy the controlcock-pit to permit entrance into-tbe latter, and to admit light: intothe interior of the hull. A hatch-cover 35, of a flexible, curtainnature, preferably, is employed for protection of the hull interior ininclement extremely secure manner which contemplates a built-inarrangement for on(` of the wings and a very sturdy method of bracingand interconnecting the remainder of the wing ling beams o7 and 58,respectively the leading and trailing beams of the lowermost wing panel,pass transversely and directly through the hull in the manner clearlyillustrated in Figs. (i. 7, FS and 9, some distance below the cabinroof' 1.8 and slightly below the herr/.omai line oier the Forwarddecking l!) as rearwardly produced to this point. These beams are thuslfirmly embedded directly into the hull and are `further secured by thildiagonal coniprcssion braces 37whirh converge from the respective beamsto a secure anchorage upon the 'transverse hyd roplane step l5. Reactionbraces 3f extend from each beam in the direetion omiosite from the step.lt is i'o be undersood.that a p'airot the comljiression braces and ofthe reaction braces is arranged for cachot the transversely projectingWing beams, one brace ci each pair being located in each side oi thehull as a component portion thereof, being secured to rib frames 3l lnaddition, upright standards 39 serve to vertically support the beamextremities, such uprights being arranged in the footings 39 and Vbeingincorporated intothe opposite sides of the hull. From this sturdyarrangement, it will'be apparent that .a truss bracing structure for theWing bean'is has been achieved which is caing boat, and the'hnll thereofinto aicorre- .lated Wh ol e;

'II-he upper-wing panel, through its lcading'` and trailing beams 40 and'40, is arranged for support and connection tothe tubwi'ng, and bytbeforward and rear Wing-,. p

ingfframc Aincluding a pair of matingv )racesfornnng an elongated dia'-4'mond Sockets-43 -are provi ded at the mtremities of each of theV-braces oi: the `vvm-g postl frames for connection to respective wingbeams. These sockets have been illustrated in detail inlFigs. 11 and 12and.

tirames il and 42 respec-f 1,24.e,o1e f' i I 'B will be described latermore in detail, since they are in'il'iortant 1n,serv|ng as the an- 4choragcs for the cellular cross bracing 44 of each frame and beingmaintained in pos'r tion through the inediiun of the overlapping clipplates elfi. rl`ransi'erse braccsfil, Whose seating sockets 47 will.also be later more fully set tortlniconneet'separate units of themultiple power. plant to each other by way oi center wing posts 48 whichextend through the cabin roof to connect corresponding wing beams andserve to tie the whole wing and zpower plant structure iito'a unified;whole. The entire engine 4structure is then braced directly to the hullthrough the medium of 'the forward and diagonally extending post brace49 which conncctsthe central point of the rear braces 47 with theeorrespoiuling point oi the lower wing beam B7. A second post brace 50,alinped in continuation of the main brace 49, extends in a similarforward oblique manner from tbe lower leading wing beam 37 for a secureanchorage in the boat hull in the footing port andarrangement ,ofthepower plant` units. The operation and control of such units is now to beconsidered. Each of the engines to be carried on .separate beds 45 inany desired manner that necessitates no particular illustration, isequipped with its separate means of adjustment for which purpose controlwires 5l are trained over a pulley carried on the shaft extremity of thebutterfly throttle valves vfor respective carbureters52.-.,These'control Wires are earried 4laterallyinto the boat through'protectivesleeves 53 alongthe forward lower wing beam 37 and are thencedirected to separate control throttles denoted by the numeralsl an jmountedwithin thelore cabin of the y crafti-land 'to the supportingstructure' for the across this portion of the cabin andi-mmediatelybelow the conning'top.

pilotsi seat 55, which extends transversely 'Tn the matter of gasolenesupply to the y i engines it' will be obvious vthat Where the gravityyfeed;system' is to be employed, as in the present instance, that itWouldbe most necti-ng vfore and aft impractcable for a. .large reservoirto be arranged above the engines for this purpose since a tremendoushead resistance would be offered thereby in addition to an undesirableraising of the center of gravity. Ac-

cordingly the system adopted for use in my- .over which is mounted thestrainer 58. A

hand pump'fl adapted topropel liquid is placed near the pilot seat andserves as the junction for leads and 6l connecting to the sump 57 andthe gravity tank 62 respectively, the latter being mounted in anelevated position by some such desirable means as the straps 63 to thecenter posts 48 of the engine section. This tank is formed with asedin'ient trap or sink 64. along its bottom through which the lead 61passes, as does the similar outlet lead (35 from the Windmill pumpdesignated by the numeral 66 and also connected with the reservoir sumpby means of a duct 67. The windmill pump includes the usual pump chamberin which is operable the piston 68 driven from the fan axis b9 throughthe medium of ordinary crank and connecting-rod means. The shaft 69carries volute fan blades 70 which are adapted to be actuated by theWind force created by the propellers when the machine is in flight.

Outlets for the gravity tank are present in the'exit valves 71 leadingfrom the sink 64 by different ducts 72 to opposite carbureters 52whereby each of the motors is given its independent supply of motiveHuid. Should either of the pumps operate to fill the tapk to a higherlevel' than desired, a return pipe '73 having its upper open mouthposition at the predetermined'level in the gravity tank, is .provided toconduct the excess liquid directly back to the reservoir 56. An oil tank74 'is positioned on each of the engine beds provided by the beams 45con- A winpost frames, for the ready service of the llbricatingcircuits',` While the radiators of separate water cooling systemsl arevmounted upon forward ...shelves provided by the bracket arms 76irnmedlately in front of respective engine beds. An outlet 7 7 andinlets 78 extend between the radiators and the extremities of thecirfyuit provided for the cooling liquid within 'a`c' l1 engine .l j

To the stub-.wing panels erected on the up- -r'per and lower Wing beamsare attachedlnain portion of this yoke )neled Winding reel ate theelevator vthe lower surfaces and are equipped with' trailing edgeailerons 81! At the extremities of the main panels `79 are erected themasts 79 to support anti-skid surfaces 80. From the upper extremities ofthese-masts which are thus at the hinging vledge of the main panels,there extend ther-supportingl 75 Wiresl 81a which are secured to theoverhang ing edge ofthe wing tip panel for the suspension thereof,reaction wlres 81" bracing the masts back to theupper surfaces 79'withwhich they connect at points immediately above the wing posts 82whichrjoin, in the usual manner the upper andlov'ver supportingsurfaces. These posts, one of,l which 1s also arranged under each of themasts 7 9*, are cross-bracedlto each other by the usual tension Wiring82, that portion of such Wiring denoted by the special numeral 82b beingin v direct continuation of the supporting 'mem bers 81 and 81a-, sothat the Wing tip panels are supported,via the masts,by suspensionwiring tying such panels to the lower wing braces of the adjacent engineWing post frames. Counterbalancing and completing the suspension systemare the connecting wires 82 'which tie the panel 80 directly to thelower wing. Drift wires 83 extend rearwardly from the nose of the hullto respective yoke connections 83 with forward and rearward Wing posts82, completing the draft system whereby the wing panels are mosteiiicientlyrelated to the hull.

Rearwardly the empennage supported' upon the tail of the boat includesthe eustomary vertical and horizontal fixed stabilizing surfaces 84 and84'L to the latter of which are rearwardl hinged the elevator flaps85While to the fbrmer is hingedly connected the rudder 86. Control ofthese adjustable surfaces is arranged Within the fore cabin of the boathull and includes a subi stantially inverted U.yoke 87. which is in#A.termediately braced by a rib 88 and hasitsff extremities or armscommonly pivoted by the tube'shaft 89. In suitable brackets there I ismounted at opposite sides of the big'h'tf 87 a pair of hand Wheels fdualcontrol, since each' is equipped with a'. chan- 91, and the iexiblecable commonly Wound upon the reels is' laid laterally across oppositewing panels and there connected to the respective trailingz ed ailerons80. Fore and aftoscillation .of-'t U-shaped yoke upon its shaftV 89 willoper...

flaps 85 through control cal-' 125 for the purpose of'givlng them thatj'or negative angle of incidence re- 90 which form the of the hand wheelsbles 85 positive lquired 'to alter the upor down course o f the machine.The rudder the cables 93 which-180v auatic are carried rearwardly fromtheoscillatable foot lever 94 mounted upon a 4small platwr to beimmediately in The control form `indicated at 95 advance of' the pilotsseat 55.

vcables. mentioned forthe operation of the alined with the direction ofpull upon the cables. lach of these conduits, as shown in Fig. 14, hasarranged therein a plurality of fii'red resilient wire guides 96, of acoil spring nature, through which the cables may easily passwith'minimum Wear.

It is now necessary to complete the dcscription of several of theconstructional details to which reference has already been made.Reference will first be had to Fig. 10 in which is illustrated thefolding back for the aviators seat, as arranged upon the roof brace 30.`This back includes a pair of bars 97 which are 'obliquely hinged in theinanner denoted by the numeral 98 to the oppo site sides of the hull,and carry upon their inner, ends the hinge fitting 99 which has ears99aL spaced to embrace the central ear ory leaf 100 of thecoinplementaryfitting, such central ears. being similarlv formed upon a singlest'raprwhich is carried by the mentioned brace 36 and projects into aproper alinement with the ears of the hinge fittings 99,. Removable pins101 are to be readily associated with the mating fitting portions whenit is desired that the separate swing bars 97 form a back rest for theseat 55. At the time of entrance into the cockpit through the scuttle orhatch rest bars 97 may be readily loosed by ref moval of the pins 101`in order to permit the aviators to clamber over the seat into the foreportion of the cockpit where the con-- trols are located.

Directing attention now to Figs. 11, 12, and 13, a brief description ofthe socket fittings 43 and 47a will be undertaken. The former Socketincludes a post terminal gripping p0rtion 102 which is mounted Upon abase plate 103, the latter of \vliich has apertured wire anchor-ing ears104 projecting therefrom in two directions, while in a third directionthe plate is elongated, slotted and lapped hack upon itself to providethe spaced cir-y cular hinge ears 105. With these ears there mates asimilar ear 106 formed as the bight portion of the wing fitting 107, theextremities of which fitting are diverged from each other to formanchoring ears for the cross Wire bracing 89 extending between the wingposts. The wing fitting thus serves to receive the inner extremities oithe truss braces 8:2 which would otherwise be connected directly to thewing post frame of the engine section panel, necessitating thedisconnection of the truss bracing at these hinging points when theWings were dismounted from the .48 that the engine section defined bythe Fig.

34, these back hull, a serious disadvantage which is evadedv by thenovel 'construction of the presentinvcntion. Upon thc base plate 103 ofthe socket 13 there are provided thc raised bolt seats 108 which permitthis plate to be firmly secured to its proper wir@ beam when connectinga wing' post frame 'terminal thereto.

The socket 47 is so designed as to permit of its being formed oi asingle strip of' niaterial, the extremities 10i) oi which are each -75folded back upon the main body portion and intermediately providedwitl'nslotted `bight portions 110 `which serve as the anchorage forfthecell wiring 44'. The extremities are thus produced and flanged to f'ormthe opposite plates 111 of a socket adapted to` firmly scat an extremityot',y thc transverse braces 4.-? of the origine section.

lt is by means ,of these transverse braces, in conjunction with thecentral wing beams upper and 4lower ving beams and their con nectingframesare subdivided into inten mediate cells, each of which is to' besepa rately braced by means of the truss wiring 44?, each' wire ruimingfrom one of the an choring ears on a socket 43 to the loop ears 110 ofthe diagonally oppositeI socket 47?, as is clearly apparent from aninspection ot.

Cellular intel-bracing of this character serves to tie the componentparts of the engine section very firmly together.

While the foregoing description has been I concerned with the detailconstruction whereby my present invention is to be preferably carriedout, it is believed that a further discussion of theh advantagesafforded lby my invention soconstructed, will be in place. In employinga multiple unit power plant in an invention of'tliis character, it ismost necessary that a draft system be organized Which shall tend to theequal subdivision of' work between the various motor with a degree ofsecurity far greater than i would be required with the motor Located in'the hull.' It is a second requisite that the motors be securely bracedto the wing structure to form a unified engine section, and it is athird requisite that the engine Section as i a whole and inclusive ofthe stubwving,y

panels and the vmotors be firmly connected" with the hull in accordancewith a draft systeni forming a part of the engine section 'andcontinuing into the hull. .s Each oh-these requisites isso closelyassocia-ted withfits fellows as nearly to overla in scopeellut they maybest be treated in istinct succession.

The first requisite is fulfilled theK eni-y v1s practically ployment ofstub-wingpanels, oneof which built directly yinto the hull structure andis braced thereto, in addition, by use of the post brace50. In the'second p ace the motor units 'and separate wing panels are ,combined toform a unified engine section by the employment of the wing* post framesto serve as the sole supports for the separate engine beds and havingthe dual function of securely connecting the Yseparate panels. Inaddition the panels are to be connected by the center posts of theengine section which pass through the hull roof. An absolutely completeunification ,may then be attained by the transverse connection ofseparate motor units by braces 47 having anchorage upon the mentionedcenter posts, and by the employment of the cellular interconnection justdescribed. Lastly the necessity to brace the engine section thus unifiedto the hull is desirably accomplished by use of the oblique post brace49 extending forwardly from the juncture of rear transverse braces 47with the center post, and outwardly to the lower leading wing beam 37,from which the hull brace 5() extends in continuation. Symmetry, properdistribution of the forces to be dealt with and the acquisition of agreat strength by a comparatively simple draft and bracing sysvtem arethlus attained, owing solely to the method of connectingI the supportingsurfaces to the hull, of connecting the motor units and Wing panels toform a unified engine section and the bracing of the engine section sounified directly to the hull.

While in the foregoing, however, there has thus been illustrated iny thedrawings and describeddn the specification such combination andarrangement of elements as constitute one preferred embodiment of thisinvention, it is desired to emphasize the fact that such departures fromthe )articular embodiment disclosed may be ma e in later adaptations ofthis'invention as shall be recognized as vwithin the scope of theappended claims; i j

: What is claimed is:

1. In a flying boat, a shull, lateral eXcrescencies formed thereon toaugment the hydroplaning area thereof, and wing beams arranged toproject transversely through the hull respectively foreand aft of therearward termination of said excrescencies.

2. In a flying boat, a hull, wingbeams projecting transversely througlgthe hull, ind means arranged interiorly of the hull to brace said beamsand at the same time, when arising from and alighting upon the surfaceof the water, symmetrically distrib ute the resulting stresses uniformly.throughout the hull.

3. In a flying boat, a hull, wing beams projecting transversely throughthe hull,

'- to said hull.

extending through the post brace also projecting' q hull to connect oneof said posts with a wing and means integrioily bracing the beams to thechines of the hull. Y

4. In a flyingboat, a hull, a hydroplaning step for the hull and yingbeams projecting A, through the hull viLzs-y'iec'tively fore and aft'.oisaid stsep. Y Y 70 5. In a ying boat. a hull, a planing step, wingbeams Abuilt into laid hull and means bracing said beams to said step.

6. In a flying boat. .ya hull, wing beams projecting transverselythrough the hull and "I6 means arrange in-and forming a component partof the sids of the hull to. brace said beamsl i i' 7. In a flying boat,a hull, wing beams 'projecting through .said hyll and means pr'o- .80

vided in the sides of Said hull to brace each v wing beam lfore and aftthereof..l 8; In a flying boat, a hull, Wing beams extendingtransversely through the hull and Vmeans bracing the beams both towardalud away from each other and -in the plan'es'of the sides of thefhull.4Y 9. In a flying boat,l flooring, wing beams built transverselyinto saidboat and meet'- ing diagonals bracing said beams to said flooring. j

10. In a flying boat, a planing step, Wing beams built transverselyvinto said hulland diagonals directly bracing said wing beamsrespectively forwardly and rearwardly to said step. y

11. In a flying boat, a hull, a hydroplanling bottom, wing beamsextending through the hull, and .means bracing one of said beamsobliquely into Ithe hull and directly to said b'ottom.

12. In a flying boat, a hull, a beam projecting through the hulltransversely, and means bracing the beam' longitudinally to the hull atthe center and sides thereof.

13. In a flying boat, a hull, beams projecting through the hull, meansbracing cach beam fore and aft of the hull in the planes y. of the sidesthereof and means bracing saidf beams centrally longitudinally of the.hull."1 10 14. In a 4flying boat, a hull, wing beams projecting throughthe hull. means located within the hull to brace saidbeams thereto' fand means exteriorly connecting said beams n 5 15. In a flying bout, ahull, wing beams hull, rib frames determining the cross sectionYoutlines oftheV hull, means bracing said beams and locatedx, in theplanes of the hull sides, and means securing said bracing means to Ysaidrib frames. w

16. In a flying boat, a hull., wing beams extending across. the hull,posts erected on said beams to project through the hull and 1.25

through said beam.

17. In a flying boat, a V-shaped planing bottom, a step acting as aterminus for said bottom, a tail continuing from said step, wing beamsextending across the hull, a

brace from each beam to the step and braces from-respective beams tosaid bottom'and said-taiL .-18. 'In a flying boat, a hull, Wing beamsextending across the hull, posts erected v,on

tle beams and means bracing one of said beams from the foot of rone ofsaid posts into the hull;

19. In a flying boat, a hull, wing beams extend-ing through the hull,posts erected on said beams' and alsoextending through the hull, a braceconnecting a post to a'beam and a brace connecting the beam to the hull.

20. In a flying boat, a hull, wing beams ex- 'tending across the hull, apost erected on each Wing beam, a post brace extending from one of saidposts to the opposite beam and means bracing said lbeami'o the bull 1nalinement to said post brace` 21.111 a H-ying boat, a lnIlLlniams extend22. In a flying boat, a boat-hull, a stub' panel built into said bullfor lateral wing extenslon considerably beyond the sides thereof, andseparate engine supports erected on said panel respectively adjacent itsterminals.

23'. In a flying bloat, a boat hull, a stublWing .panel built into saidhull and separate supports erected on said panel for the' engines lof amultiple unit power plant for I said boat.

ed'on said panel 24. In a vflying boat, a boat bull, a stubwing ratewlng post frames erected on said-panel i to support a plurality Vofengines above said ull shapedfyvmg post frames erected abovesaid lll toseparately' support the enginessof a multiple unit power plant for 'saidboat.

builtv into said hull, wing post frames 'erectand braces transversely.connecting'corresponding frames.

27. In a flying boat, a hull, a Wing panel intersecting the hull andmeans bracing said y panel to tbehulll both transversely. and1ongitudinally'.

28. In a flying boat7 a boat-hull, supporting surfacesL-wing post frameserected on `the surfaces including mating V-shaped braces,` and beamsinterposed between the braces 'of corresponding frames. l

29. In a flying boat, ahull, supporting anel built into said hull andsepa.

2 6; In aA flying boat, a hull, a' Wing panel thrust distributingr meansarranged between` ii4 surfaces, a diamond shapedframe connecting thesurfaces and an en ine bed support- 1,246,016 i g y', v

ed byfsaid frame in the p ane of the transverse diagonal thereof.

30. In 'a flying boat, af-bull, supporting surfaces for the hull,wingvppst frames erect ed on the surfaces, each frame including a pairof mating V-shaped braces and' engme )ed beams alined between each pairof corresponding frames at th juncture of the mating braces of eachframe.

31. In a tlyin boat, a hull, a Wing panel built into said liull, asecond Wing'panel, wing post frames connecting the panels, each framebeing formed of mating braces and truss Wiring connecting. each framebrace to the adjacent panel. y

Y32. In aflying boat, a hull, supporting surfaces, Wing post frameserected on the surfaces including mating' tliagonals, and beamsinterposed between the diagonals of corresponding frames.

BHQA wing strut fra'mcfor aircraft comprisiug mating V-shaped braces anda con nection between the mating braces in tbe plane of the transverse diagonals thereof.l

34. In a flying boat, a hull, a wing structure built into the hull, amultiple unit power `plant supported, on said structurc,

means intcrbracing the power plant units, and means bracing the powerplant as a whole to said hull via said wing structure.

2&5. 'In a flying boat, a hull, a-wing panel built into tbe bull, asecond panel, Wing )lost frames connecting the panels for the supportofthe -units of a multiple power plant with respect to the hull andposts centrally entering the/bull to additionally connect vsaid panels.

36.. In a flying boat, a hull, a wing panel built into the hull, asecond panel, wing post' lrauiies connecting the panels exteriorly oftbc hull, intermediate posts extending intothe hull to connect saidpanels and lateral bracesconnecting each o an iuteltuiediutepost.

37. ,The combinatiop with a fly'i'rig'boat, haring- 'sup ort i ngsurfaces and multiple unit propulsion, of' a dra-ft'system includingengine'bcds intermediate the Supporting' surfacesdetermining similaraxes of thrust,

said frames with"v said engine beds and firmly 'connected to said p .Y

tributing means.

. 38. In a'flying boat, a hull, Wing be'ams extending through the hull,wing post -Frames erected on the extremities of said beams and `Wingposts centrally erected onsaid beams and proJecting through said hul-l.

boat, and means symmetrically harnessing each engine bed 'to the commonthrust dis- 39. In av flying boat, a hull, Wing beams extendingacrossthe hull., frameserected on each bea-m,l braces connectmg saidframes` transversely of the hull and engine bed beainsconnecting theframes longitudinally of the hull.

40. In a flying boat, a hull, Wing beams extending across the hull, wingpost frames erected on each beam, posts also erected on said beams,bracestransve'rscy connectin each frame with a post and engine beamslongitudinally connecting said frames.

41.- In a flying boat, ahull, a cabin, a footing arranged Within' saidcabin, a. wing structure built into the hull and braces for-` wardlyextending respectively from the roof of said cabin to said footing andfrom said structure to said footing.

4:2. In a flying boat,l panels, frames connecting the anels, engine bedssup orted by the ames and meeans celluIary inici-bracing Said engine bs.

43. In a flying boat, engine section panels,

' gine section wing l frames connecting' said panels as en 'ne bedsupports, posts also connecting sai panels, and braces transverselyconnecting correspondingframesand posts to cellularly .gubdivide theengine section.

44. In. an aircraft, supporting surfaces, Wing post frames erected onsaid surfaces includingmating'- diagonals, anda so'cket comleo tivewingpost frames.

mon to the matingterminals of the respec- 45. In an aircraft,fsupporting surfaces,

"Wing post frames, beams interconnecting corresponding frames, and atienieans directly. interconnecting adjacent beams.

att-11n a llyingboat, engine section panels,

i frames connecting the panels, wings in opposite lateral continuationof each panel, sockets for said frames, hinge mountings formed on aportion of the sockets for the connection of said Wingsto the panels andmeans also formed on each socket for the connection of anengine'sectionbrace thereto.

47. In a flying a hull, engine beds' arranged exteriorlyoftbe'hull and alubrieating tank carried atibiie end of each engine bed In rif-'flyingboat, engine beds, an engine and a lubricating tank carriedupon eachbed` and a radiator arrangedat thegforward end of each of said beds.4:9. Ina ilying boat, engine section posts and a streamline gravityfuel-tank flexibly swung from eertain'p said posts.

. In a flying b oat, a reservoir tankjor motive fluid, a distributingtank .connected to said reservoir tank, means mounting the tioned abovethe engines, feed lines connect ing the reservoir and the taiik,'meansfor manually operating one of said feed lines when said engines are atrest and means for automatically operating another of said feed linesduring the working period 'of said engines. 1

53. The combination with a vessel'of fleX- ible connections adapted tohave a communic ation between the interior and exterior of said vessel,a ronduit arranged toafl'ord the pssage for said connections andseparate 'guides secured within said conduit to slidably encompass eachconnection.

54.- T he combination with a hull having control surfaces exteriorlycarried thereby and an operating means for such surfaces iiitei'iorly.located therein, a conduit alined-'J between said surfaces and saidoperative means, flexible connections between said means and saidsurfaces and means of a re-, silient nature secured Within the conduitto separately guide said flexible connections.

55. The combination with avessel of flexible connections adapted toestablish communication from the interior of the vessel outwardlytberethrough,a conduit arranged to afford passage -for the emtingconnections and a resilieiit coil 4secu red With- Iin said conduit forthe separate guidance of each connection therethrough.

' 5G. In a flying boat, a`hu1l, a liydroplaning step, wing beamsextendingqintermediately across the hull respectively fore and aft .oflsaid step, and' separate supports erected on said beams for the enginesof a multiple unit power plant.

57. In 'a flying boat, a hull, a panel comprising stub wings, ahydroplaning step formed in the hull bottom in the approximate vertical-plane of the center of, press'ure, a multiple unit power plant locatedto bring` its center of mass i`n the approximate .vertical plane of thestep, and supports vfor the power plant erected on the stub Wingsrespectively.

58. In a 'flying boat, a hull,'a stub wiiigQ panel built into the hullfor lateral projection considerably beyond 'the sides thereof,diagonalsbracing the terminals of the panel to the yhull, and separatesupports for the first said tank in the hull of said boat, andiaienginesof a multiple unit power plant mcans'flexibly suspending the second saidtank exteriorly of the hull.

51. In a flying boat, a hull, engines ele` vated thereabove, a motivefluid reservoir located in the hulla gravity tank located above theengines, feed lines connecting said reservoir witlrthe tankrmeans formanual erected on said'panel in the approximate supporting surfaces, 'amultiple-unit power plant, engine beds interposed between cor.

a hull, ,supporting i responding frames, muliv bed extenrgng at one endbeyond the corresponding en of its associated power unit, and a tankmounted at the extended end of each engine bed.

60. In a' dying bout, .s hull, supporting surfaces including iin-enginesection portion, u power-unit arranged intermediate the surfeees'eondituting :seid engine section portion, and e means intermediate saidsurfaceff gmzonelly sud power unit into the "61. lIn m `lirerilift,supporting Surfaces,

engine l. power unit, and sup- A ports for said power unit includingmating diagonals arranged for contact with respective beams.

62. In an' aircraft, supporting surfaces,

engine bed beams, V-shaped bracesjarranged to support therespective'beams intermediate said surfaces, said braces being erectedupon the lower surface, and a Ineens continuing the V-braces to theupper surface; said Ineens and said V-braces constituting collectively uwing post frame. i

In testimony whereof I ailix m si ature.

GLENN H. CVJR ISS.

